Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

6.1 Employability Plan Overview

An Employability Plan (EP) is a written agreement developed collaboratively between the FEPFEPFinancial and Employment Planner and the applicant or participant. During the W-2W-2Wisconsin Works application period, if the applicant is assigned up-front job search, an RSRSResource Specialist may write the initial EP.

The EP is a written document that outlines how an applicant or participant will achieve a specific employment goal or, if appropriate, obtain SSISSISupplemental Security Income and/or SSDISSDISocial Security Disability Insurance benefits.  

The EP details how the individual will participate in the W-2 program to achieve their goals and how the W-2 agency will assist them.

The agency worker must use the information gathered through the assessment process (See 5.1.1 and 5.1.2) to develop the EP around the applicant’s or participant’s:

  • Strengths, interests, aptitudes, and needs;
  • Prior education and work history;
  • Strategies to overcome barriers to employment identified through informal and formal assessment;
  • Assignment of work and training activities to achieve the employment goal; and
  • Length of time remaining in the W-2 program. (See 6.1.1)

Each time an EP is developed or changed, The FEP must:

  1. Fill out the EP page in WWPWWPWisconsin Work Programs;
  2. Give the applicant or participant an opportunity to sign the EP; and
  3. Give the applicant or participant a copy of the completed EP.

If the applicant or participant refuses to sign the EP, the agreement is still considered binding because the individual committed themselves to W-2 participation when they signed the W-2 Participation Agreement.

When to develop an EP

The EP must be developed with all:

  1. Applicants assigned to Up-Front Job Search (see 2.9.2); and
  2. Participants who are assigned to any of the following:
    • A TEMPTEMPTrial Employment Match Program, TSPTSPStipends for Noncustodial Parents, CSJCSJCommunity Service Job, or W-2 TW-2 TW-2 Transition placement;
    • A CMUCMUCase Management Underemployed, CMFCMFCase Management Follow-up, CMF+CMF+Case Management Follow-Up Plus, CMDCMDCase Management Denied, CMJCMJCase Management Job Ready, or CMNCMNCase Management Noncustodial Parent placement;
    • A CMCCMCCustodial Parent of an Infant, CMPCMPCase Management Pregnant Women, ARPARPAt Risk Pregnancy, or CMMCMMCase Management Minor Parent placement only in circumstances where the participant has volunteered to participate in activities as part of the W-2 program; and
    • A second parent in a two-parent household who participates in W-2 activities. (See Chapter 14)

The EP must be developed before placing a W-2 participant into an employment position or case management placement.

See 16.3.4 for information on when to develop Learnfare Case Management plans.